In 2008, fewer than 300 people attended my annual 10 town hall meetings. This year, 4,980 people attended. I heard a diversity of opinions and ideas on many issues. All citizens were given the opportunity to express their concerns. No one was shouted down; all were treated with respect.

There was consensus on a few of the major issues. The stimulus has been an expensive failure. It was a missed opportunity to create much-needed jobs. The bailouts were an enormous injustice to taxpayers by forcing them to reward the self-inflicted failures of Wall Street. If cap-and-trade passes the Senate, the middle class will pay a huge price in lost jobs and higher energy costs. Faithfully representing the interests of my constituents, I voted against each of these bills.